How to Cool a Two-Story House
- Adjust the Dampers. Many HVAC systems have dampers, which are platelike structures inside the ductwork, usually close to the furnace.
- Insulate Your Home. An effective way to help cool a two-story house is by adding insulation to prevent heat transfer. ...
- Keep Air Moving. Constant airflow helps you feel more comfortable, even if your upper floor has a higher temperature.
- Reduce Heat Production. Lots of everyday activities create heat that can make your upper floor feel even more uncomfortable.
- Add Supplemental Cooling. If your main HVAC system and fans aren't enough to keep your upstairs cool, consider adding supplemental cooling options.
- Upgrade Your HVAC System. Replacing an older HVAC system that can't keep up with your cooling needs can make you feel more comfortable and can lower your utility bills.
How to cool a 2-story house?
A tip for cooling a 2-story house that may be a bit more involved is to ensure that your attic is properly ventilated. Doing so will get rid of unnecessary moisture and heat that may settle up on the second floor.
What kind of air conditioner does a 2 story house have?
Single Air Conditioning System or Thermostat If you don’t have a modern air conditioning system, your 2-story home may be relying on a single cooling system that depends on a single thermostat. Since this thermostat only senses the temperature for only one area of your home, it is very likely to leave warm spots in other areas.
How can I make the 2nd floor of my house cooler?
From a lot of experience I can say that a simple, easy to implement, yet significant contribution to improving a 2nd floor that gets too hot in summer is to install insulating shades, lower them in the morning, then raise and vent at night.
Why is it so hot in my 2 story house?
1. Single Air Conditioning System or Thermostat If you don’t have a modern air conditioning system, your 2-story home may be relying on a single cooling system that depends on a single thermostat. Since this thermostat only senses the temperature for only one area of your home, it is very likely to leave warm spots in other areas.
How do you keep a two story house cool?
10 Ways to Cool Down Your Second FloorBlock the sun. ... Insulate and ventilate. ... Repair your ductwork. ... Reduce your use of lights and appliances. ... Change air filters. ... Adjust the fan setting on your thermostat. ... Create climate zones. ... Fire up the (ceiling and floor) fans.More items...
Is it harder to cool a two story house?
If your HVAC unit is on the first floor, it has to push hot air out as cooler air enters a room. That means the system has to work harder to distribute cool air to the second floor.
Does a 2 story house need 2 AC units?
Two units allow for an easier time balancing the desired temperature in your home. Generally, one area of your home will be warmer or more difficult to cool than another. In a two-story home, the upstairs area is often warmer, as warm air rises. Having two AC units in your home can help balance out the temperature.
How does AC work in a two story house?
Having one AC unit for two story home can be done. You will need a dual zone AC with one unit that powers both air conditioners. Having two AC units in your home (upstairs and downstairs) can help balance out the temperature. The best option here is a mini split air conditioner.
How do you balance upstairs and downstairs temperature?
Keep the air moving by turning on the fan setting of your home's thermostat. Turn the fan from “auto” to “on”. The fan will circulate the air continually throughout the home and can help even out temperatures between floors.
How do I keep my second story cool in the summer?
Simple Fixes to Help Cool Your UpstairsProperly open vents, don't block return air supply. Let the air flow! ... Install lightly colored curtains or drapes. ... Keep heat-generating appliances off. ... Run a fan (when you're in the room) ... Keep your HVAC fan set to 'on' ... Inspect your ductwork. ... Check your insulation.
How much hotter is a second floor?
Rising heat in multi-level homes Heat naturally rises, so a typical two-story home can experience an 8–10 degree temperature difference between the upstairs and the downstairs.
How many air conditioners do I need for a two-story house?
The unit on the ground floor is only turned on during the day, while the unit upstairs is operated only at night when everyone is asleep. That is why this makes it essential for homeowners to have two separate air conditioning systems to make each floor comfortable.
Should I put my air conditioner upstairs or downstairs?
Hot air is less dense than cold air, so it rises while cold air sinks. Therefore, cold air sinks to the first floor of a multi-story home while hot air rises to the second floor. This also means that your air conditioner upstairs must work harder to maintain the optimal summer temperature for your home.
Why is it hotter upstairs than downstairs?
Rising heat in multi-level homes In a typical two story home, there is a 8–10 degree temperature difference between the upstairs and the downstairs. This is because heat naturally moves from lower to higher levels, leaving the upstairs rooms warmer than those below.
How can I cool my upstairs of a 2 story house without AC?
Place Box Fans in Windows Like the attic, your upstairs tends to trap rising heat and using window box fans is a great way to keep a house cool in the summer naturally. When cooling a room with fans in windows, face them outward to vent the hot air out, especially when it's hotter outside.
How can I improve my airflow upstairs?
The following tips and tricks will comprehensively guide you about how to increase airflow to second floor:Keep Air Conditioner Running in Fan Mode. ... Install a Ceiling Fan. ... Increase the Size of Return Vents. ... Increase Number of Vents. ... Clear the Vents. ... Close Vents on Lower Floors. ... Go for Ductless Air Conditioning.More items...•
How to keep airflow cool on the second floor?
Instead of using the "auto" setting for your HVAC fan, turn it to "on" so it runs all the time. Running your ceiling fan counterclockwise in the summer helps create a cool breeze in upstairs rooms. Attic fans can help cool the space above your second floor to decrease the temperature indoors.
How to keep air moving in a room?
Keep Air Moving. Constant airflow helps you feel more comfortable, even if your upper floor has a higher temperature. Instead of using the "auto" setting for your HVAC fan, turn it to "on" so it runs all the time. Running your ceiling fan counterclockwise in the summer helps create a cool breeze in upstairs rooms.
Why is my second story hot?
If your attic lacks insulation, it could be a big cause of your hot upper level. Your roof collects a lot of heat, which enters the attic. Since the second floor is right below the attic, that heat naturally seeps into those upper spaces. Increasing insulation can help keep your second story cooler.
How does insulation help your home?
Proper home insulation helps your entire home feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter by helping to regulate the temperature. You can add blown-in insulation to walls that are already finished. Sealing leaks around windows can also help to better insulate the home and keep it more comfortable.
Why do ceiling fans run counterclockwise?
Running your ceiling fan counterclockwise in the summer helps create a cool breeze in upstairs rooms. Attic fans can help cool the space above your second floor to decrease the temperature indoors.
Can you close dampers to keep upstairs rooms cool?
You can partially close the dampers to areas that stay cold and open them fully to the upstairs rooms that stay hot. This can help balance the airflow and send more cold air upstairs for effective second-story cooling. Advertisement.
Does insulation help cool a second story?
Since the second floor is right below the attic, that heat naturally seeps into those upper spaces. Increasing insulation can help keep your second story cooler. Advertisement.
How to direct cold air from AC unit?
Close all of the upstairs doors that you don’t use often. That way you can direct the flow of the cold air being delivered by the AC unit into the rooms you do use.
How to get the most efficiency out of a central air conditioner?
If you’re trying to get the most efficiency out of a central air conditioner: Leave all of the upstairs doors open. This allows cold air to flow more freely throughout the second floor and reduces stress on the unit. If you’re trying to get the most efficiency out of a window or ventless air conditioner:
What is the best air conditioner for a room?
Try a Ventless Air Conditioner. Depending on your needs, a ventless air conditioner (also known as a portable evaporative cooler) might be a good choice for you in comparison to other cooling appliances. These devices are exceptionally good at cooling rooms of all sizes and don’t require a window to operate.
Why install thermostat on second floor?
For that reason, you should consider installing a thermostat on the second floor so that your central air conditioning unit can get a more precise reading of the floor’s temperature.
How does a smart thermostat work?
Smart thermostats take this control to a whole new level by allowing you to maintain your air conditioning through a smartphone or other mobile device through WiFi.
Why position window air conditioner in second floor?
Positioning a window air conditioner in those places will allow the unit to better regulate the heat on your second floor.
Why leave the upstairs doors open?
Leave all of the upstairs doors open. This allows cold air to flow more freely throughout the second floor and reduces stress on the unit.
When was the 2 story house built?
The weather was hot. The two-story house was built in the 1980s; it included a single-zone split-system air conditioner that delivered cool air through ductwork to every room in the house. My hosts complained that the second floor was always hot, even when the air conditioner was running full blast. Curious, I poked around a bit.
Why blow more cellulose in attic?
It is just as effective (and cheaper) to just blow more cellulose on the attic floor if you are worried about the (slight) performance degradation caused by the lack of a top-side air barrier. So if you are worried, just blow a little more cellulose to make the insulation deeper than the code requires.
Why are high ceiling returns good?
High wall and ceiling returns offer a couple advantages - reduced constraints on furniture placement, and, in the case of high returns, less debris drawn into ductwork. When an 80 lb long hair dog has no floor return to sleep upon, filter change intervals lengthen nicely.
Can you build a 2 story home without zoning?
I contend it is virtually impossible to make a two story home comfortable, summer and winter, without the use of two systems or zoning a single system. My preferred choice, for total loads of 4 tons or less, is zoning a single system.
Do you need to adjust ducts for mileage?
Additional duct adjustments may be necessary... your mileage may vary.
Does each floor have different airflows?
2) Probably - each floor almost certainly has greatly differing summer and winter required airflows. That's physics; there's no getting around it. Comfort is impossible without accounting for that simple fact. Zoning is a great way to automatically provide for that. My own home has a single system supplying four zones on three levels.
Why is it important to know the size of your air conditioner?
The size is important because it lets you know how much capacity your air conditioner should have —not too much, but just enough.
Can you use an air conditioner on a two story house?
Yes, actually, you can. Sometimes, people are so concerned with making sure that their homes are cool and comfortable that they buy an air conditioning unit with more capacity than their home actually needs. This is often an issue with two-story homes, since warm air always rises to the second floor. A two-story house is more difficult to cool ...
Can you cool a 2 story house?
Cooling a two-story home. If you live in a two-story, or are interested in building one for various reasons ( read more about the perfect house plan here ), you probably know that air conditioning a house with multiple levels is a little different. Since hot air rises, there's really no way for the upstairs of a home to be as cool as the downstairs.
Do you need an air conditioner to cool your house?
Ideally, you should have an air conditioning unit that is just powerful enough to cool your home on the hottest days, and no more. That will allow your unit to have longer on and off cycles, and longer cycles means your unit will effectively remove moisture from your home.
Can an AC run too quickly?
You might, but you probably don't. In fact, if your air conditioner is created to cool more space than you have, you'll have moisture problems. Your AC will cycle on and off too quickly, and it won't run long enough to remove humidity from your home. The capacity is higher than you need, and that's a problem.
Is it harder to cool a one story house than a two story house?
A two-story house is more difficult to cool than a one-story house, but it can be done. And there are a couple of ways to do it. But first, let's debunk an air conditioning myth.
Can you have two air conditioners on each floor?
You could have two outside units (one for each floor) but you might not need it for that space. A better solution could be to have one air conditioning unit, a thermostat on each floor, and a damper system that can divert cool air upstairs when you need it.
How to keep upstairs cool?
Another option is to open the top return vents to draw in hot air from the top of your room and send it to the HVAC unit, which will keep upstairs cool.
Why is my second story so hot?
Most people set the same temperature for the upper and lower floors. Since hot air rises, this leads to a warmer second floor. You can quickly fix this problem by lowering the temperature of your second floor by at least two degrees. Smart thermostats, sensors, and zoning can significantly help in this regard.
How long does an air conditioner last?
The average lifespan of an air conditioner is around 10-15 years. If your HVAC unit is older than this, it might not be able to cool your house properly.
What floor is HVAC on?
2. HVAC Unit Is on the First Floor. Air conditioners have to push out hot air as well as introduce cold air to the second floor. Since central HVAC units are placed on the first floor, this requires double effort as cool air may continue to sink back to the first floor.
What is ductless AC?
These are self-contained units where each AC cools one room. There are many types of ductless air conditioners; mini-splits, portable air conditioners, and window units are some of the most popular choices.
How to increase airflow to second floor?
You can increase airflow to the second floor by adjusting the HVAC dampers.
Why is insulation needed in the attic?
Attic insulation is essential for a cool house and the effective working of your AC.
How many mini split units can I install for each heat pump?
You can install up to 4 indoor mini-split units for each outdoor heat pump.
What vents allow outside air to enter attic?
You should address these underlying problems first before considering a zoned system. Blocked Soffit Vents – Soffit vents allow outside air to enter your attic at the lowest point of the roof. Insulation or other material may have fallen into the soffit area.
Can a second floor air duct leak?
Leaking Air Ducts – If the ducts connected to your second floor are leaking cold air, then of course your upstairs will not be cold. Unfortunately, the average air duct system loses around 20-30% of its conditioned air to cracks and gaps in the ductwork. Learn how to test your air ducts for leaks.
Do hotel rooms have ducts?
You may have seen these small, sleek machines inside of a hotel room. Air is discharged directly into the room, no ducts needed.
Can you have multiple thermostats?
Multiple thermostats – There’s a thermostat for each zone so you can control the electronic dampers in your air ducts. So now there’s no more fighting over the thermostat setting!
How to keep the second floor cool?
1. Install an Attic Fan or Vent. Because hot air rises, it's more challenging to keep the second floor of a home cool than the first floor. Installing a fan or vent in the attic will go a long way towards keeping hot air moving up and out of your home and keep cool air circulating. You can also install a thermostat that will turn on ...
Why do you need to close the doors on a central air conditioner?
Central air conditioning units are built to cool the entire home, not just some rooms. By closing the doors to unused rooms, hot air gets trapped and affects the performance of the air conditioner. Leave those doors open to keep air circulating throughout the house.
How much does it cost to install a ceiling fan?
Ceiling fans can be purchased at any home improvement store for as little as $50 but prices can go up to $1,400. Installing a ceiling fan costs around $245 on average.
What to do if your thermostat is not digital?
If your thermostat is not a digital programmable system, consider installing one to replace an outdated unit. Digital thermostats allow for more detailed scheduling and temperature settings. Digital systems have pre-set capability that will go on and off at chosen times and temperatures.
How to keep the sun from warming up your room?
Insulating your second-floor rooms from the sun's heat will help to combat that difference. Keep the shades drawn to stop sunlight from warming up your rooms. For windows that do not have coverings, install window film to keep the sun's heat at a minimum. Window film can be applied to skylights as well.
Can you put a thermostat in the attic?
You can also install a thermostat that will turn on the fan when the attic reaches a set temperature. Having this feature will help to remove the hot air from the attic and the rest of the house. An attic fan or vent can do a lot to save money on your home’s cooling costs.
Why is the second floor of a two story house cooler than the first?
The Complaint. Usually, homeowners with two-story houses have one significant complaint. The second floor is often warmer while the first floor is cooler. This happens for a reason. The mechanics of airflow is its natural thermal convection. Hot air tends to rise upward while cool air goes down.
How to get better results in a 2 story house?
For a two story house you’re going to get better results by splitting the two floors into different zones – each with their own thermostat. This gives you some ability to work with the natural air circulation in the house, rather than fighting it.
How to set thermostat on lower floor?
In general, in the colder months, set the thermostat on the lower floor to be a degree or two higher than the setting on the upper floor (if you’ve got three floors, the same principle applies – so you will have three different settings, each one a degree or two lower as you go up through the house). In the warmer months you do the reverse – set the thermostat on the lower floor to be a degree or two lower than the setting on the upper floor .
Why is upstairs warmer than downstairs?
In most cases, the upstairs is warmer than the downstairs because you’re setting the thermostats to the same temperature. If you have a dual thermostat system, it’s not going to work correctly.
What does it mean when you have two thermostats?
On the other hand, if you have two thermostats, one upstairs and one downstairs, it means that there are two zones for the HVAC system.
When is the best time to use an air conditioner?
Often, summer is the highlight of when your air conditioner is needed. Generally, the kids are out of school, so you may be going to appointments, running errands, and playing games. Regardless, you may not realize that there is an issue. Often, your air conditioner keeps you relatively comfortable.
Does hot air rise or fall?
Remember, hot air rises, cold air falls – so if you set the different levels of your house to slightly higher or lower temperatures (depending on the season) you will make cost effective use of this basic principle